Galectin-3 plasma levels in adult congenital heart disease and the pressure overloaded right ventricle: reason matters

To assess galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels and their relationship with clinical status and right ventricular (RV) performance in adults with RV pressure overload of various mechanisms due to congenital heart disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients underwent clinical examination, blood testing and transthoracic echocardiography. The study included 63 patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, 41 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and 20 healthy controls. Gal-3 concentrations were higher in patients compared with controls (7.83 vs 6.11 ng/ml; p = 0.002). Biomarker levels correlated with age, New York Health Association class, N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide and RV function only in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries patients. Gal-3 profile in congenital heart disease patients and pressure-overloaded RV differs according to the cause of pressure overload.